{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,2]],"date-time":"2026-03-02T10:04:50Z","timestamp":1772445890442,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,1]],"date-time":"2026-03-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772323200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","award":["UID\/00285\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/00285\/2025"]}]},{"name":"FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","award":["LA\/P\/0112\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0112\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFB"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Intermaxillary elastics are widely used in orthodontics to deliver controlled forces for malocclusion correction, aiding in the correction of anteroposterior, vertical, or transverse problems. Despite their clinical relevance, comprehensive mechanical characterization remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical properties of nine types of intermaxillary elastics available on the market to guide evidence-based clinical selection. Methods: Elastics were tested under uniaxial tensile loading following ISO 37:2011 and ISO 21606:2007, with six replicates per type. Load\u2013displacement and stress\u2013strain responses were analyzed, measuring peak force, elongation at rupture, work-to-rupture, and specific rupture work. Non-linear behavior was modeled using cubic polynomial regression, and normalized stress\u2013strain curves enabled intrinsic material comparisons. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc tests assessed differences among elastics. Results: All elastics displayed characteristic non-linear elastomeric responses. Functional grouping distinguished short-displacement\/high-stiffness, intermediate-displacement\/moderate-stiffness, and long-displacement\/high-capacity bands. Work-to-rupture, specific rupture work, and normalized stress\u2013strain metrics varied significantly, reflecting differences in energy absorption and force delivery (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Mechanical characterization, including energy-based descriptors and normalized stress\u2013strain analysis, supports informed elastic selection, enhancing orthodontic treatment predictability and patient safety.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb17030117","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,2]],"date-time":"2026-03-02T08:51:57Z","timestamp":1772441517000},"page":"117","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Mechanical Characterization of Intermaxillary Orthodontic Elastics: Energy-Based Metrics and Clinical Guidance"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1152-020X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Antunes","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Universit\u00e1rio de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Catarina","family":"Oliveira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Mariana","family":"Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9269-5417","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos Miguel","family":"Marto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra University Hospital, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Integrated Clinical Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-531 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-531 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9592-3120","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Vilhena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7004-2212","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Am\u00edlcar","family":"Ramalho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3283-5104","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"In\u00eas","family":"Francisco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra University Hospital, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2615-2929","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francisco","family":"Vale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes (CEMMPRE), Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems (ARISE), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Institute of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Laboratory for Evidence-Based Sciences and Precision Dentistry, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra University Hospital, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.4103\/0970-9290.62805","article-title":"Tensile properties of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures","volume":"21","author":"Ahrari","year":"2010","journal-title":"Indian J. 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